Review: Thicker Than Water by Kelly Fiore

Title: Thicker Than Water
Author: Kelly Fiore
Publisher: HarperTeen
Age Group: Young Adult
Category: Contemporary
Release date: January 5th, 2016
Pages: 320 (ARC)
Rating: 4 out of 5
Source: Publisher
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Cecelia Price killed her brother. At least, that’s what the police and the district attorney are saying. And although Cecelia is now locked up and forced into treatment, she knows the real story is much more complicated. 

Cyrus wasn’t always the drug-addled monster he’d become. He was a successful athlete, but when an injury forced him off the soccer field and onto pain medication, his life became a blur of anger, addiction, and violence. All CeCe could do was stand by and watch, until she realized one effective way to take away her brother’s drugs while earning the money she needed for college: selling the pills. 

Soon, CeCe becomes part drug dealer, part honor student. But even when all she wants is to make things right, she learns that sometimes the best intentions lead to the worst possible outcome.

CeCe's story is told in two parts, before and after.  Before, her brother was her hero until addiction took over his life.  After, Cecelia was charged for murder.  CeCe's entire life began to spiral when her mother passed away.  Since then, the family struggled with debt and each other, but worst of all, Cyrus got hooked on Oxycontin.  She couldn't stand to watch him drag himself up from his cave in the basement, knowing he was blitzed, wasting what little money her father made on pills.  As a senior in high school, she knows that the only way she'll ever be able to go to college is if she gets a scholarship, but even that isn't very promising.

This story is intense.  Not only does it deal with the problems and emotions that accompany losing someone close, but the hard drug usage made the story even more heartbreaking.  The author did a great job informing readers about addiction, as many of the scenes involving Cyrus were very well written and eye-opening.  I truly felt for CeCe, because his struggle was hers as well.  When an offer is made, Cecelia finds that not only will selling the drugs get her a good chunk of cash, but it leaves a few less pills for her brother to take.

Thicker Than Water is unlike many YA books I've picked up lately.  It's so dark and tragic that it will stick with you for days.  I think that drug abuse is such an important topic to discuss, especially because so many people start with the idea that they can stop anytime.  Many don't realize the toll it takes on their loved ones, which is why CeCe's perspective is so unique.  This book will hit you hard with raw emotion.